Towing or maneuvering question

[Dar8600]

Hey all,

I put this in the towing section because it involves hitch stuff and the TV that I use. I am at the crossroads of a decision with respect to moving my Whitehawk 31DSLB in and out of my seasonal site. Here is the issue. My neighbors have planted inconvenient flower boxes along the road across from my site. Due to the length of the trailer (35 Ft) and the length of my TV (2013 F-150 SCrew) I cannot swing the trailer into my site without running over said flower boxes. The two option that I have come up with to address this issue is the possibility of mounting a front receiver hitch on my F-150 and maneuvering it that way or the purchase of an electric trailer dolly. I have done a bunch of research on the dolly option and the $1500 price tag is a real turn off. The cost of a front hitch is less that $150 so that is far more palatable. I would like to open the floor for those with an opinion, hits, ideas, or general advice about moving a trailer with a front hitch. The tongue weight of the Whitehawk is 630 lbs and the TV is a 2013 F-150 ecoboost 4x4. The site has a 10% grade at the steepest part but its only 5-10 feet. Also if anyone has any knowledge or experience with a electric trailer dolly I would love to gain some insight. The dolly I am looking at is a Powermover AC8. Thank you in advance for your input.

Take care, Dan

[highlife4me]

If you have access to a larger garden tractor or ATV you can buy or build a wheeled dolly that you can use to move a trailer.

[rugerguy]

Originally Posted by highlife4me

If you have access to a larger garden tractor or ATV you can buy or build a wheeled dolly that you can use to move a trailer.

Not to hijack the thread but this reminds of my younger, foolish days when I hooked my 17' Prowler to my Snapper lawn mower.....Can you say WHELLIE?
I have seen a web page that shows how to build an electric dolly from an old lawn mower,and an electric motor.
I'll see if I can find it and post it.

[Jagiven]

Couple of thoughts. Have you talked with your neighbor and the CG about their flower boxes? A friend as a season and the CG will move a trailer for about $25 with a skidloader. Ask the said neighbor to help guide you in, this might give him the hint that their flowers boxes are in a bad spot. Worse case scenario, but you do not want to be a bad neighbor, if the boxes are not to big, drive over them, then apologize sincerely like you did not realize that you where so close. I think if you chat with the CG manager, you will come to a good solution.

[rugerguy]

Here you go http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRAILER-MOVE...ht_2909wt_1231

[jdorant]

I would talk to the campground about pulling it out of the space for you. Most campgrounds move trailers around every day using tractors and construction vehicles that are much better at maneuvering than our trucks. I'm sure they would be happy to help as you are now "boxed" in there.

[highlife4me]

Originally Posted by rugerguy

Not to hijack the thread but this reminds of my younger, foolish days when I hooked my 17' Prowler to my Snapper lawn mower.....Can you say WHELLIE?
I have seen a web page that shows how to build an electric dolly from an old lawn mower,and an electric motor.
I'll see if I can find it and post it.

Obviously you don't know what a wheeled dolly is. It basically turns a trailer into a "wagon" with no hitch weight to burden the tow vehicle. Lots of people use them to move wheeled fish houses in Mn.

[tinlizzie23]

I like Jagiven's ideas about talking to all parties concerned and see if something can be worked out, maybe even temporarily moving the flower boxes. But jdorant also has a good idea - see if the CG will move the trailer with a short wheelbase tractor that can avoid the boxes.

[norty1]

Is this a once only move or will you be coming back. I would think the owners and other residents would be sympathetic to your plight. The roads need to be useable. Are the flower boxes on the road right of way?

Some talking and negotiation may resolve it.

[Dar8600]

Hey all;

The flower boxes are 1 foot off the road and are permanent so moving them is not an option. I have talked to the CG about using their tractor but the problem they have had in the past is that the way the tractor hooks up to the TT it has a tendency to bang into the front of the TT which is a definite NO GO at this station. It looks like the electric dolly may be the only viable option unless the dear woman across form me happens to leave. If it was a once in and leave it I would just run the boxes over and rebuild them for her but we pull it of site 3 or 4 times a summer. I am going to call the power mover guy today and see if his product will work. Thanks for the input guys I appreciate it.

Take care, Dan

[WIBadger]

The flower boxes are 1 foot off the road??? I would contact your city/town/municipality public works department to determine the zoning/ordinance restrictions for installing structures near the roadway. In most cases, the roadway does not "end" at the edge of the road or just beyond the shoulder area. Usually, the width of a roadway is measuring X feet from the centerline, perpendicular to the direction of traffic. My guess is that your neighbor has illegally installed her flower boxes in the roadway, and if my assumption is correct, I would ask her to remove them due to the local ordinances, and failing that, get your local officials involved. I would check into this before the purchasing any equipment.

[Wolverine]

WIBadger, this is a campground, not a residential area. Not sure the city has any jurisdiction over the CG.

That being said, I cannot believe you have to spend that type of coin for a powered wagon. It just seems that some people have no consideration for others, especially at a CG with 50 foot plus rigs using the roads at all times. If nothing can be done to resolve your situation where your site currently is, are there other sites available that you can move to ??

Sorry for situation. It definitely sounds like a doozy.

[poohbear]

If she wont move them after talking nicely,then just run over them every time.They will finally understand the problem.rv'ers knew these were in the way when they made them.

[clubhouse]

Is changing seasonal sites an option? May be the lowest cost and easiest solution.

[clutch]

First thing would be to talk to the neighbor and explain the problem. If that doesn't work I would hook a tow chain to the most offending flower box and place it somewhere far away. (best done with no witness)

[eldermike]

I have been in a situation where I had to pull ahead without turning, unhook, reposition the truck, and hook up again and start my turn. Will this work?

[WIBadger]

WIBadger, this is a campground, not a residential area. Not sure the city has any jurisdiction over the CG.

Is this a private CG? I would complain to whomever is running the CG. Who knows, maybe your neighbor will next install a fence between the road and her boxes (what's to stop her from doing so???). IMHO, you need to shut this down. Unfortunately, sometimes you gotta fight for what's right (ie, the ability to enter and exit your site without damaging your TV or the property of another). Good luck.

[clutch]

Let us know how this works out.

[jmactootall]

If they put you in a spot the campground should expect you to be able to get in and out of it. If the only way in/out is to take out a few flowers then "goodbye flowers". I would say sorry to the flower lady but I have to have some room to move.

[Panhead]

Originally Posted by highlife4me

If you have access to a larger garden tractor or ATV you can buy or build a wheeled dolly that you can use to move a trailer.

A 35 foot trailer with a garden tractor or a quad? Surely you can't be serious, Sorry I called you Shirley.

Steve